Err Msg: Backup: NTBACKUP.EXE - Application Error

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

When you use a batch file to back up directories, you will receive the following error message:

   Backup: NTBACKUP.EXE - Application Error
   The instruction at “XxXXXXXXXX” referenced memory at “XxXXXXXXXX”.
   The memory could not be “read”.

   Click on OK to terminate the application
   Click on CANCEL to debug the application

CAUSE

The above error message occurs when a line in a batch file (that calls NTBACKUP) contains a directory list that exceeds 282 characters.

For example, the file BACK.BAT contains the following lines:

   ntbackup backup d:\one\ d:\two\ d:\three\ d:\four\ d:\five\
   d:\six\ d:\seven\  d:\eight\eight\ d:\nine\nine\nine d:\ten\
   d:\eleven\ d:\twelve\ d:\thirteen\ d:\fourteen\ d:\sixteen\
   d:\seventeen\ d:\eighteen\ d:\nineteen\ d:\twenty d:\twentyone\
   d:\twentytwo\ d:\twentythree\ d:\twentyfour\ d:\twentyfive\
   d:\twentysix\ d:\twentyseven\

RESOLUTION

There are three possible workarounds to this problem:

• Decrease the number of characters in the line to 282 characters or less.

  -or-

• Use the Backup application from the Administrative Tools group to initiate the backup.

  -or-

• Split the line up into 2 lines or more.

   ntbackup backup d:\one\ d:\two\ d:\three\ d:\four\ d:\five\
   d:\six\ d:\seven\  d:\eight\eight\ d:\nine\nine\nine d:\ten\
   d:\eleven\ d:\twelve\ d:\thirteen\ d:\fourteen\ d:\sixteen\
   d:\seventeen\ d:\eighteen\ d:\nineteen\ d:\twenty d:\twentyone\
   d:\twentytwo\ d:\twentythree\ d:\twentyfour\ d:\twentyfiveseven\

    ntbackup backup d:\one\ d:\two\ d:\three\ d:\four\ d:\five\ d:\six\
    d:\seven\  d:\eight\eight\ d:\nine\nine\nine d:\ten\ d:\eleven\
    d:\twelve\ d:\thirteen\ d:\fourteen\ d:\sixteen\

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.